genomics
Observation | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyFunctional Characterization of Circulating Mumps Viruses with Stop Codon Mutations in the Small Hydrophobic ProteinMumps virus (MuV) outbreaks occur in the United States despite high coverage with measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. Routine genotyping of laboratory-confirmed mumps cases has been practiced in the United States since 2006 to enhance mumps surveillance. This study reports the detection of unusual mutations in the small hydrophobic (SH) protein of contemporary laboratory-confirmed mumps cases and is the first to describe the impact...
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceStaphylococcal Protein A (spa) Locus Is a Hot Spot for Recombination and Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus pseudintermediusStaphylococcus pseudintermedius is a major canine pathogen but can also occasionally infect humans. Identification of genetic factors contributing to the virulence and clonal success of multidrug-resistant S. pseudintermedius clones is critical for the development of therapeutics against this...
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionGenomic Characterization of Invasive Meningococcal Serogroup B Isolates and Estimation of 4CMenB Vaccine Coverage in Finland4CMenB is a 4-component vaccine used against invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB). We investigated the genetic variability of MenB in Finland and evaluated 4CMenB strain coverage by 2 different methods: MATS (meningococcal antigen typing system) and gMATS (genetic MATS). In a set of MenB isolates, 78% (MATS) and 86...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyGenetic Association Reveals Protection against Recurrence of Clostridium difficile Infection with Bezlotoxumab TreatmentClostridium difficile infection is associated with significant clinical morbidity and mortality; antibacterial treatments are effective, but recurrence of C. difficile infection is common. In this genome-wide association study, we explored whether host genetic variability affected treatment...
Commentary | Host-Microbe BiologymSphere of Influence: Decoding Transcriptional Regulatory Networks To Illuminate the Mechanisms of Microbial PathogenicitySadri Znaidi works in the field of molecular mycology with a focus on functional genomics in Candida albicans. In this mSphere of Influence article, he reflects on how the paper “An iron homeostasis regulatory circuit with reciprocal roles in Candida albicans commensalism and pathogenesis” by Chen...
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceGenomic Variation among Strains of Crithidia bombi and C. expoekiA group of trypanosomatid flagellates includes several well-studied medically and economically important parasites of vertebrates and plants. Nevertheless, the vast majority of trypanosomatids infect only insects (mostly flies and true bugs) and, because of that, has attracted little research attention in the past. Of several hundred trypanosomatid species, only four can infect bees (honeybees and bumblebees). Because of such scarcity,...
Observation | Applied and Environmental ScienceSalmonella Genomic Island 1B Variant Found in a Sequence Type 117 Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli IsolateSGI1 and variants of it carry a variety of antimicrobial resistance genes, including those conferring resistance to extended-spectrum β-lactams and carbapenems, and have been found in diverse S. enterica serovars, Acinetobacter baumannii, and other members of the...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyComprehensive Identification of Fim-Mediated Inversions in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli with Structural Variation Detection Using Relative EntropyUTI is a common ailment that affects more than half of all women during their lifetime. The leading cause of UTIs is UPEC, which relies on type 1 pili to colonize and persist within the bladder during infection. The regulation of type 1 pili is remarkable for an epigenetic mechanism in which a section of DNA containing a promoter is inverted. The inversion mechanism relies on what are thought to be dedicated recombinase genes; however,...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyFunctionally Related Genes Cluster into Genomic Regions That Coordinate Transcription at a Distance in Saccharomyces cerevisiaeThe two-dimensional, physical positioning of genes along a chromosome can impact proper transcriptional regulation throughout a genomic region. The transcription of neighboring genes is correlated in a genome-wide manner, which is a characteristic of eukaryotes. Many coregulated gene families can be found clustered with another member of the same set—which can result in adjacent gene coregulation of the pair. Due to the myriad gene...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyDiversity and Population Overlap between Avian and Human Escherichia coli Belonging to Sequence Type 95APEC causes a range of infections in poultry, collectively called colibacillosis, and is the leading cause of mortality and is associated with major economic significance in the poultry industry. A growing number of studies have suggested APEC as an external reservoir of human ExPEC, including UPEC, which is a reservoir. ExPEC belonging to ST95 is considered one of the most important pathogens in both poultry and humans. This study is...